Alaska: What’s New in the Last Frontier

Recommend Standard Image TemplateAlaska—What’s New in the Last FrontierBy Lydia Gregory“There’s truly no way to ‘do’ Alaska and check it off your list after one vacation,” says Jillian Simpson, President and CEO of the Alaska Travel Industry Association. “We see solid repeat visitor numbers, partly because our state is so vast that travelers just whet their appetites after one week and partly because there are always new lodges, tours and experiences being developed,” adds Simpson. “Whether a visitor is cruising Alaska for the first time or traveling independently on a repeat visit, it’s hard not to be wowed by the beautiful landscapes, majestic wildlife and rich culture.” An example on the latter: Juneau will host the biennial Celebration event by the Sealaska Heritage Institute June 5-8, one of the state’s largest gatherings of Southeast Alaska Native peoples. And there’s so much more. For example, the Aurora Borealis activity is expected to be extra powerful for the next two years, and the bear watching for cruise-goers or city visitors (the season is mid-June through early September) is on everyone’s bucket list—take Wild Coast Excursions out of Juneau with once-daily, intimate hiking and bear viewing tours, all environmentally responsible, natch. That being said, let’s peek at a sampling of what’s new.New in LodgingFrom lodges to camps to yachts to boutique hotels, plenty of unique options are popping up in the Last Frontier. Downtown Anchorage will welcome a completely renovated Aviator Hotel with eight different guestroom types this fall. Renovated and historical, the Susitna Adventure Lodge is a roadhouse on the Denali Highway offering all-inclusive experiences for small groups—think dog mushing, fishing, canoeing and kayaking, for starters. Opening this spring, BlueWater BaseCamp in Eklutna Valley will focus on bringing the great outdoors to people with disabilities, offering specialized equipment. In Sitka, Tongass Treks has partnered with Equinox yacht charters for 4- to 5-day hiking adventures where clients will end their days aboard a yacht for dinner and a luxury snooze.Cruise NewsAlaska is set to welcome some 55 vessels, including new ships like Celebrity Cruises’ first Edge-Class ship to sail in the region, Celebrity Edge, which will be joined by Celebrity Summit and Celebrity Solstice this year. Princess Cruises is making waves with its 55th anniversary celebration, bringing in seven ships, including the new Discovery Princess. In the luxury arena, Silversea Cruises’ Silver Muse, Silver Shadow and new Silver Nova will travel between Vancouver, B.C., and Seward, while Crystal Cruises returns this year with eight itineraries aboard the newly refurbished Crystal Serenity. Other new ships in the area this year include Carnival Cruise Line’s Panorama and Hapag-Lloyd Cruises’ Hanseatic Spirit. Royal Caribbean International will bring back four ships this year, while Holland America Line has a new Arctic Circle itinerary. Speaking of new itineraries, check out Alaskan Dream Cruises, UnCruise Adventures (including an 11-day Aleutian Islands adventure in 2025), and look for extended travel beyond the Inside Passage with Lindblad Expeditions. All Aboard The current Alaska Railroad season recently revved up with new air, hotel and rail specials for clients traveling to Fairbanks, including the Bridgewater Package Special that starts with a flight to Fairbanks for a night chasing the Northern Lights with a jaunt on the Aurora Winter Train south to Anchorage. Then, out of Anchorage, you can bundle the train travel with three new tours: the Matanuska Glacier Tour, Turnagain Turn Tour and the Wildlife Guided Tour, all operated by Salmon Berry Travel and Tours. Peak season pricing is on now through April 5. However, you can save your clients some cash during value season from April 6 to May 5. Contact InformationAlaska Railroad: alaskarailroad.com/travel-tradeAlaska Travel Industry Association: travelalaska.com/Travel-Trade
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